WEBVTT -- AGING BUILDINGS PROBLEM.A BUSY AFTERNOON AT CROSS STREETMARKET IN FEDERAL HILL.>> WHAT DO YOU SAY?>> THANK YOU, YOUNG LADY.LACEE: SOME OF THESE VENDORSHAVE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES.>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTUALLYGAVE ME A PARTY FOR MY 30-YEARANNIVERSARY, BECAUSE THIS IS ASENSE OF COMMUNITY.LACEE: ANNA EPSILANTIS, WHO OWNSBIG JIM'S DELI, IS A THIRDGENERATION OWNER AT THE MARKET.SHE'S BEEN IN CHARGE FOR ALMOST38 YEARSJOHN NICHOLS WHO RUNS STEVE'S, LUNCH HAS BEEN HERE 53 YEARS.HIS FATHER STARTED THE BUSINESS.>> WE DO NEED IMPROVEMENTS INTHE MARKET, BUT NOT WHAT THEYWANT TO DO.LACEE: MERCHANTS WE SPOKE WITHAGREE.>> WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THATTHEY WERE GOING TO WORK AROUNDUS SO WE WOULDN'T BE UNEMPLOYED.I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT CAN GOA YEAR WITHOUT AN INCOME.LACEE: INSTEAD, EVERYONE WILL BEOUT OF BUSINESS STARTING INAPRIL.>> WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE10 MONTHS, AND THERE ARE 73FAMILIES THAT STILL DEPEND ONTHIS PLACE FOR A LIVING, ANDTHERE'S NO ANSWER AS TO HOW WERESUPPOSED TO MAKE IT FROM POINT ATO POINT B. LACEE: SOME OF THESE CUSTOMERSARE HEARTBROKEN OVER THE IDEA.>> I THINK IT'S WRONG THEY'RETAKING THE MONEY AWAY FROM THESMALL PEOPLE, AND THEY WANTBIGGER THINGS IN HERE. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BELIKE IT IS WHEN THEY CHANGE IT. LACEE: DAVID'S BEEN COMING INSINCE 1981.THEY'RE LIKE FAMILY.THE MERCHANTS WONDER WHAT HELPTHEY'LL GET IN THE REDEVELOPMENTPROCESS, AND SOME SAY THEY WON'TBE ABLE TO AFFORD TO COME BACK.>> I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TOLEAVE ME ALONE. I CAN OPERATE MY BUSINESS THEWAY I'M DOING IT.LACEE: 16 OF THE 17 BUSINESSHAVE JOINED TOGETHER AND HIRED ALAWYER.THE DEVELOPERS SAYS THEY AREWORKING TO MAKE FAIR INDIVIDUALDEALS BETWEEN THE MERCHANTS ANDLANDLORD.THEY EXPECT SEVERAL BUSINESSES

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Business owners are holding a rally Thursday night, calling it the last stand. They're asking city officials and community members to support them as they try to find a better solution to the aging building's problems.

Some of the vendors have been at Cross Street Market for decades. Anna Epsilantis, owner of Big Jim's Deli, is a third-generation owner at the market. She has been in charge for almost 38 years.

"The neighborhood actually gave me a party for my 30-year anniversary because this is a sense of community," Epsilantis said.

John Nichols, who runs Steve's Lunch, has been at the market for 53 years.

"We do need improvements in the market, but not what they want to do," Nichols said.

Everyone will be out of business starting in April.

"We were led to believe that they were going to work around us, so we wouldn't be unemployed. I don't know anybody that can go a year without an income," Epsilantis said. "When we found out about the 10 months, and there are 73 families that still depend on this place for a living, ... there's no answer as to how were supposed to make it from point A to point B."

Some customers are heartbroken over the idea.

"I think it's wrong they're taking the money away from the small people and they want bigger things in here. I don't think it's going to be like it is when they change it," said David, a customer who has been coming to the market since 1981.

To the customers, the merchants are like family. The merchants wonder what help they'll get in the redevelopment process, and some said they won't be able to afford to come back.

"I would like for them to leave me alone. I can operate my business the way I'm doing it," Nichols said.

Sixteen of the 17 business have joined together and hired a lawyer.

WBAL-TV 11 News has reached out to the city to see what help the merchants will get during redevelopment but has yet to hear back.